Over one million people have contracted the COVID-19 pandemic in 180 countries in just more than two months after the outbreak first reported in Wuhan, China.
The infection surge have yet to show that the pandemic is slowing down despite governments’ aggressive intervention such lockdowns, massive testing of patients and speeding up clinical trials for vaccines and drugs.
According to the Maryland-based Center for Systems Science and Engineering of the John Hopkins University, real-time data culled from governments and health monitors around the world showed the pandemic has now approached the 1 million mark. As of 7:02 am GMT +4, the tally is at 1,015,709.
Death toll keeps rising at 53,069 , with Italy taking the hit most with more than 13,915 deaths.
Spain has recorded the most number of deaths in a single day — 950. It has reached over 10,000 deaths, the second most number of deaths in the world.
The United States reported the most number of cases with more than 245,000. European states Italy, Spain, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Turkey are in the top 10 countries with most number of recorded cases.
China, where the pandemic started, has essentially “flattened” its epidemic curve with 82,443 cases, 76,576 recoveries and 3,322 deaths. Yesterday, China started testing even those who are asymptomatic and will include positive cases without exhibiting symptoms in their official tally.
The Philippines recorded the second largest number of cases in Southeast Asia. With 2,633 cases, it is ranked (31st) worldwide with 107 deaths. The number of recovered patients is still low at 51. Since testing is very limited, the death toll is at 4 percent.
The United Arab Emirates ranks (51st) in largest number of cases worldwide with 1024 cases, with 8 deaths and 96 recoveries. UAE has aggressive intervention such as almost a week-long sterilisation period, lockdown and drive-through massive testing.
